The Horse Mistress: Book 2 (EBOOK, LGBT)
The Horse Mistress: Book 2 (EBOOK, LGBT)
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EPIC FANTASY MENAGE ROMANCE (E-BOOK, LGBT).
Andoc, Senovo, and I have defied convention by declaring our love for each other.
I’ve become a pariah—a female who’s been quietly living as a man. Meanwhile, Senovo has been hiding his shape-shifting curse, believing the wolf inside him to be a vicious killer. When our secrets are finally revealed to the village elders, we fear dragging Andoc down with us.
Next in line to become Draebard’s tribal chieftain, Andoc endangers his position by continuing with such an unorthodox relationship. But when Senovo and I are captured by the enemy, to save our lives he’ll have to risk more than his own future prospects.
To get us back, he’ll be risking the fragile peace between Eburos and the Alyrion Empire.
-o-o-o-
The Horse Mistress by USA Today bestseller R. A. Steffan is a 2016 Rainbow Award winning LGBT fantasy romance series.
This series is part of the Eburosi Chronicles:
The Horse Mistress (4 books)
The Lion Mistress (3 books)
The Dragon Mistress (4 books)
Master of Hounds (3 books)
Mistress of War (3 books)
While loosely linked, each series may be read on its own.
- Publication date: February 24, 2016
- Language: English
- Print length: 359 pages
- File size: 426 KB
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TWO
THE FIRST WARRIOR of the Mereni was waiting for us when we arrived, along with the High Priest, Jyrrel. I glanced at Senovo, unsure how he would react to the old man’s presence after Jyrrel had unknowingly triggered Senovo’s shape-shifting ability with a mysterious elixir two nights ago, setting a terrified wolf amongst the guests at a handfasting. The slender eunuch’s face was still a mask, but he did not hesitate as we entered the room.
“Good morning,” Varanis greeted. “I take it Andoc has already left?”
“He has,” Senovo replied, his voice level and pleasant.
Varanis nodded. “I’ve asked the High Priest to join us so we could discuss a proposal of his.”
She gestured for us to join her at the heavy table dominating the room. When we were seated, it was Jyrrel who spoke first.
“I know our two tribes have a long and storied history of conflict,” he began, “but, given we are about to join together against a common enemy, it occurred to me that I might be able to help you in a different capacity.”
“How so?” I asked before Senovo could respond, my wariness not completely hidden. For all that Senovo had expressed his forgiveness for Jyrrel’s unwitting exposure of his transformative ability, I could not help but blame the man for turning Senovo’s life upside down in the space of a moment.
Unfazed by my poorly disguised hostility, Jyrrel merely leaned back in the chair and laced his hands together over his generous stomach. “The ranks of the priesthood have swelled in Meren in recent years,” he said. “Many of the novices have ambition, but they are unlikely to be able to move up the hierarchy with any sort of speed… there are too many others in front of them.”
“And?” I prompted.
“Well,” said the old eunuch, “at the risk of being unforgivably indelicate, Draebard needs new priests. It seems like a situation which could provide mutual benefits to both tribes.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to berate Jyrrel for his gross insensitivity— High Priest or no. Before I could, though, Senovo sent me a quelling glance. His expression was thoughtful, possibilities turning behind his eyes.
“That is indeed an interesting proposal, High Priest Jyrrel,” he said mildly. “How many individuals are we talking about?”
“Half a dozen or so, including two who are willing to leave immediately with the initial delegation. The first two are novice priests, and the others are acolytes.”
I forced myself to put aside my emotions and think about it logically. The ranks of Draebard’s priesthood had gone from almost two dozen to a mere four in the space of one night… soon to be three, if High Priest Rhystel died. Senovo could not hope to perform all the necessary religious duties in the village with only two young and grief-stricken acolytes to help him.
“I would like to speak with them later today,” Senovo said, “but I am certain that Draebard would welcome them, as would I.”
I envied Senovo his ability to compartmentalize his grief. Aware that I’d sounded churlish earlier, I said, “Of course we would. Please forgive my hasty words. Our village suffered a traumatic loss, and I let it affect my judgment.”
Jyrrel met my eyes, his expression one of understanding. Even that was enough to make me bristle, but I reminded myself that this man was a friend of our own injured High Priest. No doubt the news of the attack had affected him as well.
“Horse Mistress Carivel,” he said, “you have no reason to trust me and every reason not to. But—though it may be hard to remember at times—we are all on the same side here. Rhystel is my brother in the eyes of the gods, and I am pleased to help his people in any way I can.”
I nodded, unsure of what I could say that would be appropriate.
“We are pleased to help each other,” Senovo said, rescuing me from committing any more diplomatic blunders. “If I can help these young priests and acolytes to reach their potential, it is my honor to do so.”
The talk moved on to the rest of the delegation. Varanis informed us that her mother, Leader Magoldis, would be traveling to Draebard along with the acolytes and a small escort of warriors—no doubt intending to make a statement about Volya’s failure to appear before her in person to discuss the treaty. Varanis herself would remain behind to organize the larger military force for the planned attack on the Alyrion outpost.
The first delegation would be ready to depart two days hence. Varanis urged us to stay an extra day and travel with the group, but we declined. The Mereni could not know about the fact that everyone in Draebard still thought me a man—Senovo and I would have to travel ahead of them to face the potential repercussions before Magoldis arrived.
With the details more or less arranged, the meeting ended. Varanis and Jyrrel left to deal with their various responsibilities. It was nearly midday, so I suggested Senovo and I get something to eat. “… in Andoc’s honor,” I added with a wan smile, feeling somehow as if the responsibility for such necessary tasks had fallen to me in his absence.
Senovo quirked a half-smile in response. We left the meeting hall, braving the stares and whispers once again. The first market stall we came to was run by an elderly woman, and my thoughts turned instantly to old Gretya, killed in the attack on Draebard. I swallowed, dragging myself back to the present only to find that the woman in the food stall was bowing deeply—nearly abasing herself to us. Well, to Senovo, to be more precise.
“Please don’t do that,” Senovo said, his tone mostly level, though I could tell that underneath, he was stricken.
“Ma’am,” I added quickly, “it’s all right. We only want to buy some food.”
The woman straightened, but kept her eyes averted. “Holy One,” she said in a quavering voice, “please—I saw you after the handfasting. I saw you change. My son is ill. He has the paralyzing sickness. Please, I beg of you… will you come and bless him? The Healers say they can do nothing.”
I was close enough to Senovo to sense the fine tremor that ran through him, but his mask was firmly back in place when he replied. “I have no additional sway with the gods because of my ability. Please understand that I cannot magically heal your son. However, if you wish me to visit him and perform a blessing, I will do so, as would any priest.”
“Oh, thank you! Thank you!” said the stall-keeper, looking up at him finally with tears in her eyes, and patently oblivious to the parts of Senovo’s response that she did not wish to hear. “Here, please—take some food in return for your generosity, Holy One…”
She eagerly served up generous helpings of spiced meat and vegetables for us. I glanced at Senovo again; his face was pale. I took the wrapped portions she offered us and placed a handful of coins firmly on the counter of the stall.
“No, really. I insist,” I told her when she tried to demur.
“Where is your son staying?” Senovo asked, and nodded his understanding as the woman gave him directions. When she was done, he assured her that he would visit shortly, and we took our leave.
“I will visit the sick man as soon as we’re finished eating,” Senovo said as we stood in the shadow of a building, hiding away from prying eyes while we picked at our meal. “Afterward, I should go to the temple and meet with the acolytes and novice priests who wish to come to Draebard.”
“I could come with you,” I offered.
Senovo shook his head, leaning against the wall with one shoulder. Despite the fact that the day was barely half over, he looked exhausted.
“It’s not necessary,” he replied. “I understand what you’re trying to do, and I do appreciate it, but this is my life now. You cannot protect me from it, much as you might wish to do so. I will see the woman’s son, and speak to the novices, and afterwards I will return to our room and meet you there, probably around dusk. If you wish to help, perhaps you’d be willing to purchase our dinner, so that I won’t have to face a repeat of this experience at the end of a long day.” His eyes flickered down to the food in his hand, clearly recalling the stall-keeper’s bowing and scraping.
I nodded, chastened, and pasted on a smile. “Of course. I should visit the horse pens and make plans for taking the black stallion when we leave in the morning.” I swallowed the last of my meal and threw the leaf wrapping away. “I’ll see you this evening.”
Senovo squeezed my shoulder, and I briefly covered his hand with my own. He stepped back as I moved to leave the shadowed alleyway where we had retreated to eat in relative privacy. With a final glance behind me, I made myself stride confidently toward the edge of town where the horses were kept, my head held high.
* * *
The horse pens were a hive of activity at midday, with people coming and going on various errands. I looked around and was pleased to find Previn, the young apprentice who had taken something of a shine to me after my horse-taming demonstration two days ago, hand-walking a sweaty, blowing mare around the perimeter of the pens to cool her down.
“Hullo, Previn,” I called, lifting a hand to catch his attention. His face immediately lit up in a grin.
“Horse Mistress Carivel!” he greeted, leading the mare toward me eagerly. “How are you today?”
“I’m well, thank you,” I said, not completely truthfully. Still, I had to admit that I was better for being near the horses.
“What can I do for you?” Previn asked, quieting the mare when she began to fuss.
I indicated that we should walk together, not wanting to interfere in the boy’s duties. “I was hoping you could answer a couple of questions for me.”
“About Nietre?” he said.
“Just so,” I replied, nodding. “I’m mostly curious if he’s ever been ridden, or harnessed.”
“Oh, yes,” Previn said, as if it were a foregone conclusion. “He was started in the fall of his two-year-old year, just like all of them are. Harnessed with an experienced horse first, pulling a chariot, and then under saddle a month or two later.”
I perked up visibly at that piece of information. “Really? Did they have any problems with him back then?”
“Nah, not that I can remember,” said Previn. “He was pretty normal until he was about four. Started really noticing the mares that spring and it all kind of went downhill from there.” He looked at me with a sly gaze. “You gonna ride him, then?”
I smiled. “I’m seriously considering it.”
“You should! I heard the Leader gave him to you. Made me grin from ear to ear, hearing that.” The same grin split Previn’s features as he spoke, making him look even younger than he was. “Can I watch?”
“Tell you what,” I said. “Finish cooling out this mare, and I’ll let them know I need to borrow you for a bit. Is the Horse Master here? Or is someone else in charge this afternoon?”
Previn pointed at a tall, broad-shouldered young man some distance away. “Logan is looking after things for a few hours. You can talk to him.”
“Very well,” I told him, feeling secretly relieved not to have to talk to the Horse Master of Meren, who had seemed rather hostile to me on first acquaintance. “Meet me at Nietre’s pen when you’re done. Mind you take good care of this mare first, though.”
Previn nodded enthusiastically and led the mare off for a few sips of water from one of the troughs scattered around the area. I walked over to Logan, who eyed me somewhat warily.
“Can I help you, Horse Mistress?” he asked, shooing away the apprentices he’d been speaking to before I arrived.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied. “I was hoping to borrow Previn for a little while, once he’s done with the mare he’s cooling off. I’m to take the black stallion, Nietre, with me when I leave for Draebard in the morning, and I’d prefer to throw a leg over him inside a pen before I try to do it in the middle of the wildlands.”
Logan eyed me skeptically. “You know that horse hasn’t been ridden in years, right?”
“I’d gathered, yes.”
After a second or two more of staring at me, Logan shrugged. “It’s your neck, Horse Mistress. Tell Previn to go polish the saddles in the north tack shed when you’re done with him.”
“Will do,” I said agreeably. “Thank you.”
I was leaning against the fence of the stallion’s pen with my chin resting on my hands when Previn jogged up a few minutes later. “I brought you this,” he said, handing me a rope halter with a long lead rope attached. “I saw you didn’t have one with you today.”
“Thanks,” I said, flashing him a genuine smile. It was true; I hadn’t gone back to Harinel’s boarding house before coming, so I didn’t have any of my own equipment with me… well, unless you counted the grubby strip of linen cloth still jammed in the pocket of my breeches. Which, now that I thought about it, might come in handy today. “Could you find me a straight, sturdy stick a little longer than your forearm?” I asked Previn.
“Sure,” he said. “You want me to get a saddle and bridle, too?”
I shook my head. “Not today. Accepting the rider is a different thing than accepting the saddle. I don’t want to deal with both today, but I really do want to ride him.”
Previn was staring at me with an expression somewhere between worry and awe—apparently they didn’t do much bareback riding in Meren. I cleared my throat, and the lad seemed to come back to himself. He flushed slightly in embarrassment and hurried off to find my stick.
In the pen, Nietre looked up from his hay and pricked an ear after the boy. I made a clucking sound with my tongue, and the stallion’s attention turned to me. Gods above, he was a beautiful animal—so different from the horses of Draebard, with their stout, feathered legs and barrel-shaped bodies. I was desperate to take him out to a stretch of flat road and give him his head. Long-legged and muscled as he was, the horse’s speed had to be breathtaking.
When Previn returned, I took the stick he’d found and tied the piece of cloth to the end. When I entered the pen, the stallion lifted his head high and snorted. As I had done when I visited the previous day, I approached him from the side and moved him a few steps away from the pile of hay, claiming it for myself. This time, though, instead of inviting him back to join me, I used the stick and cloth flag to move him around me in a wide circle.
After a few moments of fussing and bucking, he settled into a steady trot. I revisited the lesson we’d done on the first day, turning him toward me and away from me to change directions, slowing and speeding his gait using my body position and the cloth flag. This time, when I invited him to approach me, I backed up several steps so that he had to pass by the pile of hay to reach me. I was pleased to see that he ignored it completely, walking up to me confidently, but without aggression.
I let him sniff the flag, and then my hand, before scratching and rubbing at the scabs from the heavy halter that had been left on the unruly horse for months before I’d removed it during the demonstration. As he had before, Nietre leaned into the touch, bobbing his head up and down to get friction where the itching was worst. After two days, some of the crusty scabs were already starting to fall off, revealing tender new skin underneath.
When the horse’s expression was soft and relaxed, I put the rope halter on, adjusting the knots to avoid any tender places. I rubbed him all over with the stick and cloth, noting any spots that made him defensive and spending extra time there until he calmed. Once he accepted both the stick and my hand all over his body, I ran through a series of yielding exercises, moving his forequarters and hindquarters in both directions, backing him up and drawing him forward with the halter and rope.
It was still a bit surprising to me that the horse was as responsive as he was, given the years of rough treatment he’d received. I hoped that was a sign that his early training—including his training under saddle and harness—had been skillful. Leading him over to the fence, I climbed up to perch on the top rail. Nietre raised his head to stare at me and released an explosive snort as he backed up a few steps.
“Oh, I see how it is,” I told him. “You’re happy enough to rear up and loom over me with your hooves flailing all over the place, but as soon as I’m taller than you, you turn into a scared little bunny rabbit.”
Previn snickered from his spot a few paces away, outside the fence. “I always thought he was really just frightened, underneath it all,” said the boy. “Didn’t make him any less dangerous though.”
“Most of the aggressive ones are only trying to protect themselves,” I said, pleased at Previn’s insight. “You get the very rare one who isn’t afraid of people at all and just wants to dominate them. Those are the ones you can’t do much with, if they’re bad enough. The scared ones, though—the scared ones can become some of the very best horses if they decide to trust you. Once they finally trust, they trust completely. They’d give their lives for you.”
While I was speaking, Nietre crept forward again to sniff at me as I sat on the fence. I was ready to correct him with the stick and flapping cloth if he forgot himself and showed teeth, but it was important that I trust him to snuffle and nudge at my clothing as he investigated this new development. After all, I was about to ask him to trust me to sit on his back, in the same place a cougar or lion would try to latch on in order to bring him down and eat him.
When he seemed satisfied that it was still me, even though I was suddenly taller, I went back to scratching his head until he was happy and relaxed again. I repeated the routine of rubbing him all over with the stick and flag, urging him to line himself up parallel to the fence with gentle taps of the stick against his opposite hip. I reached over his muscled back to rub the flag along his far side, and waved it smoothly back and forth above his head and neck to see how he would react to something moving around in his peripheral vision where a rider’s torso—my torso—would be.
He lifted his head in mild alarm, ears swept back to listen, but soon calmed again. I wasn’t surprised. He’d been ridden for more than a year with no issues when he was younger. All of his problems originated between his ears, not on his back. I stretched my hand forward, grasping his bony withers and rocking his weight from side to side. The stallion rolled his nearside eye around to stare at me, but obligingly set himself square over all four feet, ready to accept a rider without losing his balance. I leaned down to hook my arm across his back, letting the weight of my upper body settle onto him. His attention was still focused on me intently, but he did not shift an inch.
Straightening, I gathered the lead rope and stick into my left hand and slipped lightly from the fence onto his back.
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- 5 stars: 17 (85%)
- 4 stars: 2 (10%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 1 (5%)
I read book 1 yesterday and it was interesting but book 2? It wrecked me emotionally. I cried along with Carivel and worried over her lovers and what the future would hold for them. The care and love these three share is just... beautiful. There are no other words. The beauty of this love is nigh earth-shattering in the end. I won’t give it away but I will warn you I had to stop and sob for a little bit before continuing on. This book was an emotional roller coaster and I truly felt what the author was intending me to.
This book pushed the characters' relationship even farther and includes themes I love - hurt/comfort, PTSD, and consensual kink. This series is remarkably well written, with characters and a world I adore and want to learn more about. I can't wait to read the next one!
* I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *As with book 1, I devoured the sequel in one sitting, relishing the same careful treatment of gender and power roles that I'd come to love from the first book in the series. It's really refreshing to see Carivel's gender identity handled so well (or at all, really--not many authors seem to like tackling gender identity themes), and combined with a delicious mix of D/s needs being met within a complex poly relationship, this series hits all of my buttons and then some. Steffan builds a convincingly harsh historical fantasy world: a village in the midst of war, caught between patriarchal traditions and a rival group's egalitarian way of thinking, with a religion and set of cultural traditions that weave the story and setting together perfectly.I can't recommend this series enough if you're looking for some complicated but deftly handled and sizzling hot poly romance! There may be a few spots where the relationship dynamics get spelled out a little too bluntly for the reader, and there are definitely several very difficult situations in book 2 that may be triggering for some, but at its core it's a rewarding story about struggling for acceptance and the importance of self-care/after-care. It's three broken people learning how to love themselves, and accepting that sometimes relying on others when you need them can make you a stronger and more independent person in the long run. Each of the main characters goes through the wringer, but together they find ways to balance their mental and physical states as they deal with very human fears and desires.I can't wait to see what's in store for Carivel, Andoc, and Senovo as the series continues... and I can't wait for our lovely Horse Mistress to get more riding done with her shiny new harness! ;)
Character whumpThe characters I grew to like in book one are back and still (again) getting themselves in all kinds of trouble, most of it not their faults. They deal with events and issues as best they can, and find help in some places they don't expect. Well, I didn't expect the help that Senovo got early and mid-book. It felt like especially Carivel got forced into some rough choices and took some of the events hard, but ze did the best ze could with the choices ze had. It was made clear that Carivel isn't a warrior. Ze just doesn't think like that. But Carivel is learning what will be useful in warfare. Ze's kind of getting a crash course. Andoc already has that mindset, and Senovo has a good sense of strategy. Carivel had to deal with a lot that didn't have to do with horses.Edited to add: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the first book, I couldn't wait for the second one to come out—and I'm happy to say it exceeded my expectations, which were high already. What makes this story better than other books I've read, is not its rich world building, or the professional quality of the writing, or even the captivating plot, although all of those things already set the story apart. It is the 3 main characters, who are complex and flawed and really interesting, and their relationship with each other. First of all, the characters are unlike any other I've encountered in the few years I've been reading in similar genres. For instance, ***SPOILER ALERT*** I've never read a book where the characters burn up the sheets (trust me, it's wow!), where one of them is a eunuch. Or where the woman in the relationship does not feel empowered by her "female body" and the conventional way a woman is supposed to have **** with a man (most stories tend to celebrate a woman's sexual faculty), so when her partners ultimately releases her sexually, it is indescribable, and I simply couldn't get enough of this story! The author treats these topics (like gender, sexuality, and intimacy) and the characters themselves, with great empathy and skill, and that made the interactions as well as the intimate scenes between them some of the most memorable I've ever read.In this book, the relationship between Carivel, Andoc, and Senovo deepens and shifts, and she and Senovo start to bond outside their relationship with Andoc. But things happen in the overarching plot of the story that create unforeseen trauma for Carivel (although it also involved Senovo, it affected him differently), and this has a huge impact on the trio. The way the story unfolds—how the two men band together to protect and care for her and each other, even while preparing to fight a much bigger enemy—was a beautiful, heart wrenching, and ultimately unforgettable climax to an already unforgettable book. Of course the overall story carries on, raising the stakes even higher with an impending war, so I can yet again not wait for the next book to come out!If you enjoy sizzling MMF polyamory and are open to gender fluidity, I absolutely guarantee you will love this series. It has a great plot with amazing characters, the **** scenes will have you blushing for days (and laying awake at night ;) ) and you will wish for your own insightful yet light-hearted warrior, and vulnerable, passionate priest (who, ***SPOILER ALERT***, are like **** coaches to couples who get married, so they KNOW stuff. Oh boy, does he KNOW stuff... I seriously want one for Christmas). I received a free advance copy of this book with no expectation for a review. This review is my own honest opinion.
I have read every one in the series and love them all!!
I really like these books. The story is deep and immersive and the characters are all so very different. Great writing as well!
'ACCIDENTALLY' Ordered this! BEWARE OF CURSOR "HOVERING OVER 'BUY'!!"
Another great book!
I love this series. I can’t wait to read all of the books!! Andoc, Senovo & Carivel are perfect together
I don't have the elegant words that some reviewers have to describe the The Horse Mistresses journey. I'm really enjoying it thus far, although I struggle with some of her sexual aversion but hey the love they have for each other is smoking! I leave you now to start part three. Good night
After I finished reading The Horse Mistress: Book 1 I started this one right away as I wanted to read more about this world, see where the story went next and spend more time with the characters. This was such a good sequel, it goes deeper and develops things more and brings the danger and other plot liens into more focus too. And there are some great side characters too. It was awesome. I hope I can read book 3 and 4 soon too.In The Horse Mistress: Book 2, the characters are ready to leave the village of Meren to return to their own village Dreabard. They have news regarding the treaty, but also will have to reveal Carivel and Senovo's secrets in the process. They are all a bit hesitant to return and afraid how their village will react. This book deals a lot with the fallout of their secrets, some politics in their village and a decision they are sort of forced into. There is some danger as the conflict with the mainland people looms closer.It was interesting to see how the village reacted to Carivel's secret that she is actually a women and Senovo being a shapeshifter. Carivel has to content with a lot of different reactions and I thought it was interesting to see how the different characters reacted and was pleasantly surprised by one of the side characters. But the more negative responses felt quite realistic too, even tough it made me sad. She is forced into a certain decisions to make the village accept her more as a female and the part made me a bit sad, even tough they really didn't have a choice. And I did like how they handled it in the way that worked for them.This book was quite a bit longer than book 2 and there is quite a lot that happens. Again the author masterfully balances the different aspects of the book. There is enough focus on the story, scenes with the horses, scenes with other characters and events and scenes with the 3 main characters and their romance. This book also has some more difficult and sad parts toward the end and I felt so sorry for what they had to go through. I did like how it ends on a hopeful note, but it's also clear there is more danger to come.There were so many great parts of this book. The story kept my attention and I liked seeing certain topics get explored more. There are some great developments. I also liked how we get to see more of Senovo and his wolf. There were some great scenes there and I do think Carivel has the right idea on how to handle this. Carivel's struggle with her gender/ her gender fluidity also is part of the story again and we keep seeing how this impacts her and how she experiences things. I feel like this book developed and explored parts of the characters even more, which was great.There are also some great scenes with Carivel and the horses. With the new horse she got in Meren and how she interacts with them, as well as her own horse and the herd of horses she cares for in Dreabard.The romance again is one of my favorite parts. I just love how these 3 are together. They clearly love each other and care for each other a great deal. I like how they're there for each other in whatever way they need. And also how sometimes they get a bit angry at the others when necessary, but it all comes from a good place and gets resolved quickly. And the way these 3 of them are together is just beautiful. And the gift Senovo gives Carivel was so perfect for her.There are some **** scenes again in multiple parts of the book, nicely sprinkled throughout the story and they are some of the more happy and uplifting moments. It is pretty impressive how the author continues to vary things up and keep the **** scenes pretty unique and I enjoyed seeing how the 3 of them worked together in and outside of the bedroom. How they work with everyone's preferences and likes and dislikes when it comes to the **** is great to read.There is a bit more we learn about the world and people for the mainland, but the focus is more on the story than the world building. Nevertheless I enjoy the new pieces we learn and having a feel for the world. It was interesting to see how the people from the mainland thought of the Eburosi and the differences in their religions.To summarize: this was an awesome sequel. Plot lines are continued, we learn more about the main and side characters and the romance continues to be awesome. I liked seeing how the story continued and how the people of their village reacted to the reveals surrounding Carivel and Senovo. There are some sad parts in this book with some of the events that happen. I also liked how we get to see more of Senovo's wolf. And there are some great scenes with Carivel and her horses too. I also liked seeing the actions of some of the side characters and how they reacted to Carivel being a female. The romance continues to be one of my favorite parts as these 3 are just so awesome together, I love how caring they are. There are some **** scenes again in this book and I like how the author keeps varying things up and adds some uniq...
Oh just when I think the previous series by this author couldn’t be topped I’m proven wrong!!!! I love these characters, especially Senovo , I love him so much. Please pardon my spelling. About read the third installment!
Fantastic. I love this series. It has great relationships, and interesting plot, lots of complex side characters who get their own stories and plenty of spice.
The plot thickens! Having a wonderful time getting to know the characters and their daily lives. Enjoying all the insight into their world, the village processes, the horse work, and especially loving the religion the author has created for the book. I am intrigued by the priests and their work and almost feel like this sort of society could be helpful to many in the real, modern world! Really admiring the originality of this story, not your usual hero/heroine romance plot line, so much more relatable and really reads in a natural, believable way.
Yes, I am older and have my favorite genres but I am an eclectic reader and refused to be labeled as only liking certain things. Yes, some scenes are beyond graphic but as explicit as they are, they seem to be centered on love and compassion. The story line is incredible and I really enjoy Bronze Age themes. I am enjoying watching these characters come into their own.
The series is interesting. I like how the author is transitioning from one book to another. I love the way the other introduces new trouples in the Eburosi Chronicles.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.Personal rating: 4 starsI read Book One a month ago and was quite impressed by the originality of the plot (in comparison to quite a few books that I have read in this genre), so, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Book Two - for which I am quite grateful to the author.Book Two starts exactly where Book One left off - that is with Carivel, Andoc and Senovo exploring their new relationship. There are a lot of challenges ahead of them, the main being whether Carivel and Senovo will be accepted back in their home village, with their secrets in the open. But it turns out that facing village elders or neighbours gossips is not the only trouble ahead of them.I feel that this book is a way more solid read than book one. There is more in-depth exploration of the relationship between the characters. I like the way the authors goes about describing their insecurities, letting her characters talk through their emotions, have their fights and makeups. I often find that those books that fall under a wide umbrella of adult or mature romance focus mostly on physical aspect of relationship and fall short in terms of an actual plot.But not this book.This book is set into a retrograde fantasy world which has enough of substance for the story on its own. The series focuses not only on the relationship between characters (who each on their own is unique), but also on the impending war, society structure and discrimination. There wasn't a moment while I was reading a book when I knew exactly where it was going. Which is as best compliment as it can get.I have read few books with believable menage a trois relationships, even less - books with intersex characters in the said relationships that do not focus solely on whatever is happening in the bedroom. (The series also features elements of BDSM which are very light and few, so that they do not really deserve a particular mention. But I want to say that those moments are also written very well.) Every character has a purpose and their own part in the story. I particularly enjoy parts that deal with training and tending to horses. Those moments are written with amazing attention to details, which obviously speaks of experience. (I have read only one other series that would have that much detail and it warms my heart that I have another series like that.) The relationship between the characters is so loving and tender that it is just a pure pleasure to read.I really liked this book. It explores unconventional relationships, discrimination against women and queer relationships, ****, communication in relationships, dealing with abuse, gender fluidity. I want to applaud the author for managing to tick off all of the things that I usually seek for in (queer) fiction. (There was a moment in the book when I was really worried that this might go down a conventional road, but it did not, thank goodness.)I admit, I am hooked, but I have been hooked from the very first book. Book Two simply solidified my opinion. I am incredibly pleased that there will be another book in the series. And I cannot wait.p.s. If I have to pick my favourite character in the series, I would choose Senovo, because he managed to preserve a very tender heart in spite of everything that he had been through. Although it is a tough pick as I can't imagine Senovo without Andoc, and I liked Carivel way more than in Book One. By the way, if you sign up for the author's newsletter, you can get a short prequel to Book One. The only in which Senovo and Andoc meet. Believe me, you want to read that!
The epic fantasy world of Eburosi deepens, along with the relationship between Carivel, Senovo, and Andoc, in this second installment of The Horse Mistress. Many of the quibbles I had about the first book are addressed here, such as external conflicts that stand in the way of their relationship and more extensive world-building.Along with learning more about horse care, which never feels like an info dump, Steffan also includes a fantastic look at the religion she has created for this world. It is not "perfect" by any means, but it works perfectly to support the environment she has created for her characters. I also appreciated that this book builds on Carivel's character development while also extending to Senovo. Andoc continues to be a rock for both of them in a way that is loving and supportive.Issues taking place in the broader world beyond their village are also developed, and Steffan doesn't shy away from realism even when it's not pretty. I also appreciate authors who take the time to explore how characters don't just bounce back from tragedy the moment they are rescued.I'm falling deeper in love with this world and these characters, and I can't wait to read more.
I ended the first volume of the Horse Mistress a fan of RA Steffan ready to read more adventures with Carivel, Andoc and Senovo. In this part of the story, we get more of Carivel and Senovo together, and the world in general expands as the adventure takes shape.The plot moves along that the trio will help smooth the way for the two villages to work together, but they also have to live with the consequences of the first book. Both Carivel’s and Senovo’s secrets are out, and life isn’t easy for them. They have to deal with fear and hate as well as new friendships from unexpected quarters. We get more time with them discovering their places in the world at large while still finding their part in a poly trio. We also get a significant battle at the end.The **** scenes in this story further character development, and that is not something I ever expected to write in a review for a novel with romance elements in it. Carivel as an intersex person is discovering her limits mentally and physically. She needs to know, and it’s important for her self-acceptance and the role she will play in this trio.We get more time with Senovo’s wolf as Carivel is good at coaxing him out of hiding. I hope that one of the next two books will show a Senovo who has accepted that side of himself. The wolf is gentle to those he loves, and unleashing him brings relief to the guilt-ridden priest.I will say that Steffan had me fooled about the wolves. In one scene, a changed Senovo meets other wolves who howl with him as pack before departing. Then later there are men on horseback on the horizon. I they were shape-shifting wolves like Senovo, but I found out later that I was really wrong about that!While Carivel is the main character in the series, I did miss Andoc on the page. He’s there, but he’s also busy preparing for war as a First Warrior does. We still have two more books, though, so I hope the next volumes bring more of him, too, so we can learn more of him.I read and listen to a lot of indie books, and the quality can often be middling at its best. This book didn’t suffer the typical problems found in self-published works. This has polish and continuity all the way through.To the potentially interested reader: This is a character-based fantasy. Each character is distinct, and they form a believable trio. It’s not all **** and romance. They live in their world, interacting with others and being affected by it. If those elements appeal to you, definitely pick this book up.